Chapter 7: Seeing the Auras

"We'll be in right away," Leo said. He hung up the phone called for Paige. She orbed in a few moments later.

"What?" she asked.

"I need you to watch the boys," Leo said.

"I'll have to take them to magic school," she said. He nodded to her and she orbed to get them. He walked in to the living room where Piper was.

"What'd he say?" Piper asked.

"He told us to come in right away," Leo answered. He helped Piper up and walked her to the front door. He put a jacket over her and walked out to the car. Then he helped her in and ran to the other side.

"I'm almost scared to find out," Piper said as Leo got in the driver's seat.

"It's okay," Leo told her. "You'll be fine." Piper rested her head against the window and soon fell asleep.

"This should be the last time I ever have to see you," Piper said triumphantly to Cole.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"Because Leo and I are on our way to the doctor's office to find out what's wrong with me and I'll get a prescription to stop this." Cole smiled.

"How sure are you that this is the last time you'll see me?"

"Pretty damn sure."

"Piper, we're here," Leo said, nudging her. She lifted her head from the window and opened the car door. He ran to the side of the car to help her up. They walked in and were sent to a room right away. Dr. Wartburg came in a few minutes later with a file in his hand.

"How are you today?" he asked Piper.

"Crappy," she answered honestly. He smiled.

"Hopefully, you won't be feeling that way much longer."

"So, what do I have?" The doctor chuckled.

"You seem to want to get right to the point," he said. "But I don't blame you. What you have is…"

"Paige, we can't hide out here forever," Phoebe said as she orbed in. "Why are they here?" she asked, suddenly noticing Wyatt and Chris.

"Piper and Leo are going to the doctors to find out what she has," Paige answered.

"Oh, I wish I could be there, but back to what I was saying, we can't stay here forever." Suddenly, someone else orbed in.

"She's right," a female voice said. They looked to see Sandra. "You shouldn't bring your charges here and hide out. Your only supposed to guide and help your charges. Not be their protectors."

"Yeah," Paige said. "Leo already preached me that sermon. What else am I supposed to do? Stand back and let her die?"

"No, of course not," the Elder answered. "Think about Leo. What did he do when you guys were in rough positions?"

"He'd give us confidence and make us believe in ourselves," Paige said, suddenly having an epiphany. "But that isn't the case here."

"Of course it is," Sandra answered.

"I think he's working with some other demon though," Paige said. "Someone that's giving him more power."

"Hmm, you're right. That is a special case. Go to Piper. Once she is better and when her powers are back to normal, you can stop him together." Sandra orbed away. Paige orbed herself, Phoebe, and Darlene back to the manor.

"We'll drive to the clinic," Paige said.

"Let's hurry," Darlene said. "I don't want to wait around for Farkal to catch up with us."

"Lyme Disease?" Piper yelled. "How the hell did I get Lyme disease?"

"They're transmitted from the bite of deer tick," Dr. Wartburg said. "Have you been out in the woods at all in the past few weeks?" Piper thought back a few weeks ago when she and her sisters had chased a demon through a forest. "Now, for treatment I'll give you Tetracycline. You'll need to take it for about twenty to thirty days."

"Okay," Piper said. "Will I be okay then?"

"You will be just fine. Now go home, keep resting, keep drinking water, and take this medicine." He wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to her.

"Thank you, doctor," Piper said, standing up. She reached for her jacket as Phoebe, Paige, and Darlene stormed in. "What are you three doing here?"

"We need to talk to you, Piper," Phoebe said. "A little privacy?"

"Oh, okay," Dr. Wartburg said, grabbing his things and walking towards the door. "Call me and tell me how you feel in a month." He then exited the room.

"What is it that couldn't wait until we got home?" Piper asked.

"We need the Power of Three," Paige said.

"Well, my powers aren't usable at the moment." She tried to freeze Leo. "Nope, nothing."

"What's wrong?" Leo asked.

"We need help for vanquishing Farkal," Darlene said.

"Oh no," Piper said. "My powers might not be working for a while. I won't be cured of the disease for at least twenty days."

"I'll go check with Sandra again," Paige said. She orbed away. The others left the room and went to their vehicles. Once at home, Paige orbed back with bad news.

"What did you find out?" Phoebe asked.

"I didn't find anything out," Paige answered. "I was told, follow my heart."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Darlene asked.

"It's just like them damn Elders to be so cryptic," Piper said. "I'm going to bed." Then she thought for a moment. "On second thought maybe I won't. I told Cole that I wouldn't see him again. I don't want to prove him right again."

"Cole?" Phoebe asked.

"Something's really weird about him lately," Paige said.

"Tell me about it," Piper and Phoebe said simultaneously. They all sat down in the living room. There was an awkward silence.

"Now what?" Paige asked.

"I know what we can do," Darlene said. They all looked at her. "If there's nothing else," she said shyly.

"No, go on," Phoebe urged.

"Well, Phoebe seemed as if she was intrigued by aura viewing, so I thought maybe I could teach her, and you guys if you want, how to see auras."

"We're listening," Piper said. Darlene's face brightened up.

"Alright," she said getting on the floor and crossing her legs. "First, you need to get as relaxed as you can. Also, relax your eyes, but don't close them." She waited while the others settled themselves. "Now, clear your mind of all thoughts and images." This was easy for Phoebe and Leo, but not so easy for Paige and Piper. No one said anything for the longest time. Then Phoebe had a deep look on her face.

"Do you see something, Phoebe?" Darlene asked soft and soothingly.

"Yes, around Leo," she answered. "It's a whitish-gold color. It's so beautiful."

"I can believe that," Darlene said.

"Why, what's it mean?" Leo asked.

"It's the color of pure healing energy. You have the traits of many other auric colors. You're a good problem solver and very spiritual. You can calm others by your essence or touch. But, when you become unbalanced, you become distant, depressed, unsure of yourself, and insecure."

'That makes sense," Piper said, referring to the previous year after he had killed Gideon.

"I see another," Phoebe said. "Around you, Darlene. It's purple."

"You're right," she said. "My aura is usually violet. I'm very spiritual and emotional. Violets also tend to be very humanitarian and do good things. Our moods can be affected by things we see or hear, such as music. We also enjoy being the center of attention."

"Paige, I see orange, I think," Phoebe said.

"I can believe that too," Darlene said. "Orange fits Paige perfectly. A thrill seeker. They're independent, resourceful, and very confident. They enjoy life and excitement, but you usually won't find one in a committed relationship." That made Paige smile.

"Piper's color seems to be less vibrant," Phoebe said.

"That's because of her disease. Sickness, either mental or physical, will weaken the aura. What color is it?"

"Green," Phoebe answered. "It's green."

"I'm also, unsurprised again. Green are organized and powerful. They can be competitive and strong-willed. That makes them natural-born-leaders. They hate taking orders from others. They are very, very determined people. They find it hard to admit defeat. They tend to be aggressive, opinionated, quick learners, and perfectionists. They become frustrated when they lose control."

"Wow," Paige said. "It's like Piper in words." Piper couldn't help but laugh.

"Now, Phoebe," Darlene said. "You've seen everybody else. What do you see for yourself?" Phoebe concentrated.

"Blue," she answered. Darlene nodded her head.

"Blue is a lot like violet. You are very intuitive, loving, thoughtful, and supportive of others. You worry too much about the problems of others. Blues love to be loved and love others."

"That was amazing," Phoebe said. "I can't believe it. It told of us all perfectly."

"Auras often do," Darlene answered.

"I don't get something though," Phoebe said. "How do you see demons with it?"

"Well, when the demons are invisible, they still emit their aura, which is usually black or sometimes, the nicer ones, are red."

"What's black and red mean?"

"Well, there isn't a meaning for black really. It means that there is no aura. Red on the other hand means that it is full of vitality. You wouldn't be able to see invisible demons with it though."

"Why not?" Piper asked.

"Because it's not your primary power." Phoebe looked puzzled.

"She's right," Leo said. "Because it was a special gift, given to her, she can use it more powerfully than you can. Anyone can see a normal aura, even non-witches, but it takes a witch with that special gift to see more than that."

"You were right, Phoebe," Darlene said. She was looking at the other's auras around her. She then let out a scream.

"What?" Paige asked.

"He's here, I see the black."